Conditions at Sidi Ifni in January
January: Midwinter Atlantic Muscle
January is prime time at Sidi Ifni. The North Atlantic storm track is in full swing, and the data reflects it with an average swell of around 7ft (2.2m) and a powerful 13.1s period. The dominant swell direction is NNW at 34%, with NW adding 28% and a solid WNW contribution at 7% - nearly three quarters of all wave energy arrives from the preferred W-NNW window. A big chunk of those sets sit in the 1.5-2.5m range, so expect consistent, heavy, long-period groundswell rather than just a few standout days.
Wind is the remaining variable. Sidi Ifni sees ideal offshore flow from the east/southeast quadrant 37% of the time in January, among the highest of the year, but NNW winds still blow 20% of the time and can spoil things between fronts. When high pressure builds after an Atlantic low, the E/ESE/SE/SSE offshore flow turns the northwest swell into hollow, rippable lines. With air temperatures around 14.5°C, water at 17.4°C and moderate rain at 0.95mm/day, it is still a winter wetsuit session - but the reward is one of the most consistently excellent surf months of the year.
Average Spot conditions at Sidi Ifni in January
Swell history for January
Wind history for January
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Sidi Ifni during January. Based on historical data, there is a % probability of groundswell occurring this month. The chart below provides a detailed breakdown of the average wave height distribution, offering deep insights into the swell quality and surf potential you can expect at Sidi Ifni for your next trip in January.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Sidi Ifni for January. Our analysis shows that favorable offshore or side-shore winds coincide with surfable swell approximately % of the time. The accompanying graph illustrates the average size distribution of waves during these optimal wind windows at Sidi Ifni.